Saturday, March 11, 2017

Supporters of a distinguished openly gay cleric are telling Welsh Bishops to “overcome their fear” and elect him as the new Bishop of Llandaff.

Currently the Dean of St Albans, Very Rev Jeffrey John gained majority support for the vacant post in a Church in Wales vote.

But he was not elected because he failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.

Now, in advance of a second-stage vote in which Wales’ other Bishops will decide who should have the role, campaigners in favour of Dr John remain hopeful that he will be appointed.

Six Labour MPs from south Wales – Madeleine Moon, Chris Elmore, Stephen Kinnock, Chris Bryant, Carolyn Harris and Stephen Doughty – have written to the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, asking whether Dr John failed to be elected because he is in a civil partnership with another Anglican priest, Grant Holmes.